Changing Background Color in Inventor 2017: A Step-by-Step Guide
Are you looking to customize your Inventor 2017 printouts with a different background color? While Inventor doesn't directly support changing the background color in the print preview, you can achieve this by manipulating the drawing's properties. Here's a simple, step-by-step guide to help you change the background color in your Inventor 2017 printables.
Understanding the Workaround
To change the background color in Inventor 2017, we'll use a workaround involving the 'Export to DWG' feature and a simple graphics editing tool like Microsoft Paint or GIMP. This method allows you to change the background color of your entire drawing or specific areas, giving you more control over your printouts.
Preparing Your Drawing
Before you start, ensure your drawing is ready for export. Remove any unwanted layers or elements that you don't want to appear in your final printout. This step is crucial to maintain the cleanliness and organization of your drawing.
Exporting to DWG Format
Inventor 2017 allows you to export your drawings to DWG format, which can be edited in various graphics editing tools. Here's how to do it:
- Open your drawing in Inventor 2017.
- Click on 'File' > 'Export' > 'DWG'.
- Choose a destination folder and name your file.
- Select the appropriate DWG version (e.g., AutoCAD 2013 or later) and click 'Save'.
Editing the DWG File
Now that you have your drawing in DWG format, you can edit the background color using a simple graphics editing tool. For this guide, we'll use Microsoft Paint, but you can use any other tool that supports DWG files, such as GIMP or Inkscape.
Here's how to change the background color using Microsoft Paint:
- Open Microsoft Paint and click on 'File' > 'Open'.
- Navigate to the folder containing your exported DWG file and select it.
- Click on the 'Paint' tab, then select the color you want for your background using the color picker or the color palette.
- Click on the 'Home' tab, then click on 'Fill'.
- With the 'Fill' tool selected, click anywhere inside the drawing area to fill it with the chosen background color.
Importing the Edited Drawing Back to Inventor
Once you've changed the background color in your DWG file, you can import it back into Inventor 2017. Here's how:
- Open Inventor 2017 and create a new assembly or part file.
- Click on 'Insert' > 'Drawing'.
- In the 'Insert Drawing' dialog box, select the edited DWG file and click 'Open'.
- Position and scale the drawing as desired, then click 'OK'.
Printing Your Drawing
Now that your drawing is back in Inventor 2017 with the new background color, you can print it as usual. Here's how:
- Click on 'File' > 'Print'.
- Choose your printer settings and click 'Print'.
And there you have it! You've successfully changed the background color in your Inventor 2017 printables using a simple workaround. This method allows you to create more visually appealing and customized printouts for your projects.
